- 16 July, 2025
July 16, 2025
“I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.”
Millions around the world sing this beloved hymn—in church pews, at retreats, and during prayer meetings. Its simple chorus has echoed across continents and generations, stirring courage, conviction, and unwavering faith in both children and elders alike.
Yet few know the remarkable story behind it. Fewer still realise that this powerful anthem didn’t emerge from a grand cathedral or music hall but from a remote village in northeast India—born in the face of death and forged through unshakeable belief.
The Gospel Reaches the Garo Hills of Northeast India
In the early 1900s, following the sweeping Welsh Revival of 1904, a wave of missionary passion spread across the globe. Among those who answered the call were missionaries from the American Baptist Mission, who journeyed to distant lands to preach the gospel.
One such missionary found his way to a remote village nestled in the tribal hills of what is now modern-day Meghalaya. The village was home to members of the Garo tribe, was untouched by Christianity, and was known for its fierce resistance to outsiders.
Despite the challenges, the missionary was able to share the message of Christ with a man named Nokseng and his family. Nokseng, along with his wife and two young sons, was deeply touched by the message of Christ and made a bold decision: they would follow Jesus.
Their conversion sparked a quiet yet powerful spiritual ripple throughout the village. However, not everyone welcomed the change.
The Tribal Chief’s Ultimatum
When the chief of the Garo tribe heard that Nokseng and his family had converted to Christianity, he erupted in fury. To him, the new faith was more than a personal choice—it was a challenge to tradition, a threat to his authority, and a danger to the tribe’s very identity.
The tribal chief dragged Nokseng, his wife, and their two boys to a public square and, in front of the entire village community, issued a chilling ultimatum: “Renounce your faith or watch your children die.”
Nokseng’s response? “I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.”
With a cruel nod, the chief ordered his sons shot with arrows.
The boys lay lifeless at his feet. Still, Nokseng stood firm.
“Renounce your faith,” the chief barked again.
Nokseng looked into the eyes of the man who had just taken his children and said, “Though none go with me, still I will follow.”
The chief gave the signal, and Nokseng’s wife was killed.
Alone now, the chief gave him one last chance. But Nokseng’s final words sealed both his fate and his legacy:
“The cross before me, the world behind me.”
He was shot dead. His blood joined that of his family in the dirt.
A Death That Brought Life
Silence fell over the square. The chief, haunted by what he had just witnessed, murmured:
“Why should this man, his wife, and two children die for someone who lived 2,000 years ago in a far-off land? There must be something remarkable about their faith.”
That moment sparked a change in the chief. He started asking questions. He began to listen. In time, he came to believe—and eventually, he embraced Christianity himself. One by one, the villagers followed, and that once-hostile region became a beacon of Christian witness.
From Tragedy to Hymn
Nokseng’s final words inspired the hymn 'I Have Decided to Follow Jesus'. Composers set his words to music, and well-known American gospel music director William J. Reynolds later arranged and popularised the hymn in the 1950s. The melody, named 'ASSAM' to honour the region where it began, spread across continents.
It became a staple of evangelistic movements, including Billy Graham’s crusades in the 1960s, where the song's simplicity and sincerity resonated with hearts around the world. Millions have sung the chorus of the hymn, often unaware that they are singing a martyr’s final declaration.
A Song That Still Calls Us
“I have decided to follow Jesus” is more than just a hymn. It’s a battle cry born out of love, pain, and unshakeable faith. It’s a martyr’s last breath. It’s the sound of faith that will not turn back. And it’s a question to every heart that sings it: Will you follow—even when no one else does?
By Catholic Connect Reporter
Image Source: revpacmandotcom
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